Mike

Mike

LifeSafety Power Technical Support and Applications
mbone@lifesafetypower.com
(
888)577-2898 x203

Friday, 05 January 2024 18:51

ZKTeco Unified Power

ZKTeco Unified Power Solutions now available

One through twelve door ZKTeco integrated power solutions are now available for InBio, Atlas, and C3 series controllers.  Single and dual voltage available in both standard and network managed.  Pre-drilled backplate facilitates fast installation.

ZKTeco Unified Power

Friday, 05 January 2024 18:46

AXIS Unified Power

AXIS Unified Power solutions now available

Two through four door AXIS integrated power solutions are now available.  Single and dual voltage available in both standard and network managed.  Pre-installed DIN rail facilitates fast installation.

AXIS Unified Power

Friday, 08 January 2021 10:06

Welcome to our updated website

Welcome to our updated website!

We recommend you clear your browser's history/cache for the best experience.

The Gemini Series of power systems solves the industry problem of mounting integrated access control and power into a compact rack mount application.  Using a 2U high rack drawer, the enclosure was designed to mount into an enclosed 4-post rack for stability and security.  However, in some applications the only rack available is an existing 2-post rack.  While LSP recommends 4-post rack mounting whenever possible, there are solutions available for mounting 4-post enclosures into 2-post racks.  Our latest application note AN40 provides details.

2 Post Isolated

Note that it is imperative to verify the weight capacity of the rack, as many 2-post racks are light duty and not rated for the weight of a full access control system.  Also verify the stability of the rack after installation to prevent toppling.

As always, if you have any questions on Gemini or other products, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department.

Tuesday, 16 May 2017 08:18

Unified Wired Systems for Mercury

If you visited with us at ISC West in April 2017, then you already know that our latest big news is the addition of the Unified Wired line of intelligent power systems.  Unified wired is the next big step in integration between our intelligent managed power systems and the access control panel.  Currently, Unified Wired systems are available for MCLASS (Mercury), with others to quickly follow.

Unified Wired

What is Unified Wired?

As you probably already know, our current Unified Power solutions combine the power system with dedicated  space and predrilled mounting holes for the access control boards.  This eliminates the need for custom drilling and assembling the system in a third party Hoffman or Hammond-style utility enclosure, hanging multiple enclosures, and the associated costs of each.

Our new Unified Wired line takes this concept a step further by having all of the internal wiring for the access control boards pre-done in our factory.  Wiring to the LSP power equipment is complete right to the boards, while wiring to the access control boards ends with the appropriate terminal strip pre-wired and hanging in the proper location.  To complete an installation, all you need to do is hang the enclosure, mount your access control boards, remove the terminal strips from the access control boards, and plug in the provided harnesses.  After that, all that is left is to bring in your field wiring and terminate it at the proper terminals.

What are the benefits?

Obviously, the largest benefit is the savings in time of completing the internal wiring and, as the saying goes - time is money.  The hours saved in drilling holes, wiring boards, and assembling wire bundles inside an enclosure is savings that can be passed along to your end user and your bottom line.

The other major benefit of Unified Wired Systems is consistency between systems, regardless of the office or technician doing the installation.  Every system leaves our factory the same, following our standard quality control procedures ensuring a predictable, working system every time.  Confidence in knowing what is installed saves time in installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

What options are available?

First, the caveat:  because of the nature of this type of product, we aren't able to offer our usual mix-and-match capability for model numbers.  However, we do have a large variety of standard configurations available to cover most any application.  For the currently available Mercury systems, we offer 4, 8, and 16 door systems in single or dual voltage.  The smaller enclosures use tie-wrapped wire bundles, while larger enclosures can use tie-wraps or full Panduit-style wire management.

Additionally, each model is available in one of three configurations:

  • A - EP1502 plus MR52's
  • B - EP2500 plus MR52's
  • C - All MR52's

This allows the installer's choice of controller (System Type A or B), plus the Type C system for expansion of additional doors.  The total number of MR52's is determined by the door count & enclosure size.

When looking at the list of available model numbers, you may notice an "extra" D8P board in all systems.  This additional D8P is prewired for powering the Mercury boards, while leaving the other D8P's to provide one auxiliary output for each door.  Also note that D8P's are used instead of D8's to satisfy the Mercury board requirement of a Class 2 limited power source.

Model Number Format

Model numbering is the same as our current Unified Power systems, with an added suffix at the end to specify the wiring and wire management in the system.  Here is an example model number:

FPO150-B100C82D8PE6M/T8-A
The first part of the number up to the E6M is a standard Unified Power model number.  The suffix breaks down as:

T              Tie Wrap wire management
8              8 Door system
A             "A-type" configuration, which uses one EP1502 and 3 MR52's (See above)

If we order the model with P8-A as the suffix, we get the same system except with Panduit wire management.  As mentioned before, the smaller enclosures do not have a Panduit option due to space limitations within the enclosure.

Unified Wired is available now either direct or through distribution for Mercury-based access control panels.  Follow us on social media and watch this blog for availability of systems for other access panels.  And as always, if you have any questions about Unified Wired or any other technical issue, don't hesitate to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tuesday, 07 March 2017 14:14

New NetLink Features Added

The first NetLink firmware release of 2017 is in, and it's a big one.  Version 8.04 has been shipping for about two weeks now and is currently available on the LifeSafety Power website for updating existing NL2 or NL4 boards.  This release contains the usual refinements along with some valuable new features and layout improvements.

multi site mgr

Who can upgrade?

Any NL2 or NL4 currently at version 7.15 or higher can upgrade directly to 8.04.  If your NL2 or NL4 has a version of firmware prior to 7.15 currently installed, you must first install 7.15 before upgrading to 8.04.  The Firmware Downloads page of our website has both 7.15 and 8.04 available for download.  Follow the included instructions for the update procedure.

Note that this update is NOT for the discontinued NL1 board - The final firmware release for the NL1 is 5.21, which is also available for download.

Layout Improvements

The layout of the FPO status pages has been changed for more logical grouping of data and settings with power supply measurements and statistics now at the top of the page, battery information and battery testing in the middle section, and settings at the bottom.  Several other smaller layout adjustments have also been made throughout the GUI.

New Features

Several new features have been added to the Netlink with this release - these new features are immediately available to any NL2 or NL4 after upgrade, with no change in hardware required.

Client ID

ClientID

A Client ID field has been added in addition to the existing Site ID field for better identifying the system.  The Client ID can be set on the configure page adjacent to the Site ID setting and appears on all screens of the GUI.

Export Fault Data Only

FaultOnly

On the home page in the Network Module Dashboard, there is now a checkbox labeled "Fault Data Only".  By checking this box, when history data is viewed or exported from the NetLink, ONLY the fault data will be shown and all data points showing normal operation will be hidden.  This makes it easier to analyze problems by eliminating less relevant data points.

Inadequate Battery Standby Alert

RequiredStandby

Each FPO page in the NetLink GUI now has a field where you can enter the desired battery standby time.  The NetLink will then compare the battery test results with this value and send an alert if the measured standby time does not meet this minimum requirement.

Password Lockout Delay

PWLockout

Previously, if an incorrect password was entered three consecutive times, the NetLink would lock out the user for 24 hours.  This Password Lockout delay is now able to be changed to several values between 5 minutes and 24 hours.

Import and Export Configuration Files

ImportExport

With Version 8.04, the NetLink now has the ability to export and import configuration files to allow backup of a system configuration, creation of a "standard configuration" for integrators to apply to all systems, or to speed configuration of multiple systems.  The main export function will save all pertinent NetLink, FPO, and M8 settings to the configuration file.

M8 Programming Page

M8Programming

Several improvements have been made to the M8 programming page:

Output Description Added

The Output Descriptions have been added to the programming page, allowing the user to see the programmed name for each output while configuring.

Import/Export Settings

The M8 programming info may be imported and exported separately from the NetLink configuration.  A checkbox to include the Output Descriptions in the export is included.

Automatic Limit Setting

The upper and lower limits for voltage and current for each M8 output is now able to be set automatically with the push of a button.  When the button is pressed, the M8 will activate each output, measure the nominal voltage and current values, then set the upper and lower limits based on the percentages you enter.

Reset Button Functionality

The functionality of the physical hardware reset button on the NetLink has also been changed.  Previously, holding the button for 5 seconds would reset the User Name, Password, and IP settings.  Now with 8.04, holding the reset button for 10 seconds will reset only the User Name and Password, leaving the IP information intact.  To also reset the IP information, hold the reset button for 20 seconds.

We hope you find these upgrades to the NetLink devices useful and welcome your feedback.  If you have any questions on new or existing features, or need any other assistance, our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department is here to help.

Tuesday, 17 January 2017 12:09

The Benefits of a Regulated Power Supply

Did you know something as simple as output voltage can have a dramatic effect on the life of your locks?  All LifeSafety Power FPO power supplies are UL Listed as having a regulated output, extending the life of locks and other connected equipment by reducing heat.  In order to explain how this is possible, we first need to ask...

What Does "Regulated" Mean?

The word "regulated" can have at least two different meanings when talking about power supplies.  These two meanings are very close, with one distinct difference. 

In engineering terms, a regulated power supply is one which has circuitry to hold the output voltage within a small range that is centered around the actual SET output voltage across all line and load conditions.  This window is usually small and given in a +/- percentage (for example:  27.2V +/-5%).  This example power supply can range between 25.8V and 28.6V and still be considered a properly regulated supply.

In the lifesafety industry, UL defines a regulated output as +10%/-15% of the NOMINAL voltage.  In this case, the power supply set for 27.2V is considered to be a 24V power supply.  Given the +10%/-15% requirement on this 24V nominal voltage, this translates to an acceptable voltage range of 20.4V-26.4V.  In this case, the 27.2V power supply is NOT considered to be regulated by UL, even if that voltage doesn't change at all under any line or load conditions.

As you can see, the subtle difference between set voltage and nominal voltage makes a significant difference in what is considered regulated.  From a strictly electronic engineering standpoint, essentially every DC power supply in the industry today is regulated - however from UL's perspective, very few are considered regulated.  For the remainder of this discussion, "regulated" refers to the UL definition.

How Does a Regulated Supply Help My Locks?

So how does this lower voltage range extend the life of a magnetic lock such as a maglock or door strike?  Simply by reducing heat.  Lowering the voltage used to power the lock greatly reduces the heat generated within the lock and is recommended by most lock manufacturers.  Excessive heat within the lock can cause the windings to break down prematurely and can also cause mechanical failures due to expansion or swelling of internal components.  Minimizing heat is especially critical in warmer climates, where it is not uncommon for a strike to "jam" up due to heating effects of the higher voltage coupled with strong afternoon sunlight or higher ambient temperatures.

Can't I Just Adjust the Voltage Down?

Many "Brand X" power supplies do have an adjustable output voltage allowing a wide adjustment range.  While it's true that the output can probably be adjusted to a low enough voltage to protect your locks on these supplies, the problem then comes in properly charging batteries.

A non-regulated power supply has a single regulator and uses the output voltage to also charge the batteries, usually through a current limiting device like a PTC (which has its own set of problems).  This is done by many manufacturers to save the cost of an independent battery charging circuit.  The problem is that whatever the output voltage is set for is also what is applied to the batteries - so if you set your output for 25VDC, your battery charging voltage will also be only 25V, which is far too low to charge a 24V lead-acid/gel cell battery set.  Increase the output voltage to the recommended 27.2V to charge the batteries and you are now applying excessive voltage to the locks.

So What is the Solution?

LifeSafety Power has gone the extra mile to provide an independent charging circuit on all of our DC power supplies.  This allows the main output voltage to be set for 25V to power your locks and other equipment while a separate regulator charges the battery at the proper 27.2V nominal voltage.  This also has other benefits, such as the battery charging current not reducing output current capability, a stable output voltage during battery recharge, larger battery capacity, and optimized battery charging (so not only do your batteries charge properly, they also charge faster).

The output voltage setting of 25V was chosen as a balance between being low enough to minimize excessive heat while also being high enough to provide a small overhead for overcoming a reasonable voltage drop in the wiring to the powered device.  At the 12V setting, the output voltage is set for 12.5V.

Hopefully you now have a clearer understanding of what "regulated" means, how it can help you, and yet another benefit of LifeSafety Power.  If you have any questions on this topic or need any other assistance, our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department is here to help.

Tuesday, 30 August 2016 14:12

Using the NetLink Control Outputs

By now you are probably well aware of the NetLink's monitoring abilities and the added monitoring and control provided when an M8 board is used in conjunction with the NL4.  But did you know that both the NL2 and NL4 have two control outputs which can be used to control external relays or other devices?

Screenshot 1 Callouts

The control outputs can be used when basic control is needed without the full ISCAN functionality.  Our latest application note AN25 goes in-depth on using these control outputs to control individual devices or groups of devices, as well as other uses.   It can be found here:

http://www.lifesafetypower.com/docs/an25_netlink_control.pdf

If you have any questions on using the NetLink's control outputs or need any other assistance, our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department is here to help.

Thursday, 10 December 2015 14:41

Using a 208VAC Line Voltage

Oftentimes, the only primary AC voltage source available is 208V.  This is often the case in data centers, particularly rack-mounted systems.  Here in technical support, we often get calls from integrators wanting to know if our products support a 208V input.  If you are using one of our FPA or FPX products, they are limited to a 120VAC input only.  For our DC and PoE products, however, the short answer is "yes" - but there are a couple of caveats to be aware of.

The first caveat is in the product setup:  If using a 208V line, the product must be set for a 230V input.  This means every FPO power supply board must have its jumper (JP1) cut.  If the product is a rack mount RD, RC, RS, or RGM, this would apply to the internal FPO power supply board(s).  The NPR product line is auto voltage sensing and requires no additional configuration.  Consult the documentation for the product being used for specific instruction on how to configure the product for a 230VAC input.

The second caveat is in low-line operation.  Our products are generally designed and tested to operate over a +10% / -15% operating range.  That means when the product is set for a 230VAC input, operation is guaranteed between 196 and 253VAC.  When using a 208V line, that means the product is only 12V away from the low AC fault point.  If the AC line voltage sags, you are much closer to the product giving a fault and/or transferring to battery power.  This typically is not a problem, but it is something to be aware of.

If you have any questions on 208V operation or need any other assistance, our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department is here to help.

Thursday, 19 November 2015 15:36

Overcoming Voltage Drop using a B100

Many times an existing wire run is undersized for the current draw of the load device.  This could either be due to an unexpected change in the device being powered, a miscalculation at the planning stage of the job, or a retrofit situation where the existing wire size is not able to be changed.  This undersized wire results in a large voltage drop, leading to improper or erratic operation of the load device.  Even if the voltage at the device is at the low end of the acceptable range, the voltage will quickly drop to unacceptable levels when on battery power.

What is Voltage Drop?

Wire has a specific resistance per foot of length.  The smaller the wire gauge, the higher the resistance (given equivalent wire types).  As the length of the wire increases, the total resistance between the power source and the load device increases.  When current is now drawn through this wire resistance, some of the voltage is "burned off" in the wiring as voltage drop, as defined by Ohm's Law (V=IxR).

Per Ohm's Law, two main factors affect the amount of voltage dropped within the wire run:  the wire resistance, and the current drawn through the wire.  This is why a lower-current device can get away with a smaller wire gauge. 

This is also one of the main reasons the lifesafety industry has, and continues to, switch from 12V to 24V.  A given device will use a certain number of Watts.  If that device is designed to use a 24V input rather than 12V, the current required will be halved (per Ohm's Law I=P/E), which in turn will halve the voltage drop.

How can the B100 help?                         

If powering a 12V device, a B100 can be used to give an adjustable output voltage greater than the 12.5V nominal setting of an FPO power supply.  The FPO will need to be set for a 24V output, and the B100 placed into the adjustable range by moving JP3 to position 2.  The output can then be set by adjusting VR2 to a level giving an acceptable voltage at the load device.  Since this voltage is run off of a 24V supply with a 24V battery set, this voltage will remain constant until the battery set drains to well below 20V.

Please note that if the device being powered has varying current levels during normal operation, the voltage at the device will change with this current, possibly with damaging results.  As an example:

A B100 is set to a level of 16.5V to overcome the voltage drop through 500 feet of 18AWG wire powering a 12V edge device and a 12V maglock at a door.  The draw of the lock is 400mA and the edge device is 100mA, giving a total draw of .5A when the lock is powered.  When the lock is powered, the voltage drop will be 3.24V, leaving 13.26V at the door.  However, when the lock is released, and the current draw drops to 100mA, the voltage drop will decrease to 0.65V, giving 15.85V at the door, which is likely too high for the 12V edge device. 

In the above example you could decrease the B100 voltage to compensate, but you must take the whole operating current range into account.  If the operating current range is too large, there may not be an acceptable voltage to cover all load conditions.

For more information on the B100, see the B100 manual and Application Note AN-07.  Also, be sure to download our FlexCalculator Suite for quick voltage drop calculations.  And remember, our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department is always here to help.

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